Mechanical and hydrogen characteristics of hermetically coated optical fibre

Corning's hermetically coated fibre has been evaluated for mechanical and hydrogen performance under severe test conditions using large sample sizes. The results indicate that the carbon coating is truly hermetic, and that it provides an effective barrier for preventing hydrogen and water from reaching the glass surface. As a result the hermetically coated fibre possesses superior resistance to fatigue and hydrogen permeation over standard fibre. These attributes make this hermetically coated fibre and excellent candidate for use in terrestrial communication and undersea cables, as well as in other special applications where a harsh environment is present.